Adidas drops Bella Hadid from campaign following Israeli criticism

Adidas has fired half-Palestinian supermodel Bella Hadid from an advertising campaign for retro kicks referencing the 1972 Munich Olympics.

Background and Criticism

Bella Hadid, who is half Palestinian, was chosen to promote Adidas’ SL72 trainers, first launched during the 1972 Olympics. The decision faced backlash from Israel, which accused Hadid of being hostile towards Israel.

The official account of Israel on X (formerly Twitter) highlighted the attack at the 1972 Games by the Palestinian Black September group, leading to the deaths of 11 Israeli athletes and a German police officer. The post criticized Adidas for selecting Hadid, a known supporter of Palestinian causes.

Adidas’ Response and Apology

Following the backlash, Adidas issued an apology and confirmed it would revise the campaign.

The company stated, “We are conscious that connections have been made to tragic historical events — though these are completely unintentional — and we apologise for any upset or distress caused.” Adidas also confirmed to AFP that Bella Hadid had been removed from the campaign immediately.

Hadid’s Support for Palestinian Relief Efforts

Bella Hadid has been vocal about her support for Palestinians, especially those affected by the war in Gaza. Earlier this year, she and her sister Gigi Hadid donated $1 million to support Palestinian relief efforts.

In a May Instagram post, Hadid expressed her devastation over the situation in Gaza and criticized the lack of empathy from global government systems.

Ongoing Conflict in Gaza

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The conflict in Gaza, which began with an unprecedented attack by Hamas gunmen on Israel, has resulted in significant casualties. Israel’s military response aims to destroy Hamas and free hostages taken during the attack.

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reports over 38,900 people have been killed since the conflict began.

The controversy surrounding the Adidas campaign highlights the complex and sensitive nature of historical and political issues, particularly involving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.